Rep. Rita Allison, R-Lyman, is running for re-election this year as one of Spartanburg County's veteran legislators.

By ANDREW DOUGHMANandrew.doughman@shj.com

Rep. Rita Allison, R-Lyman, is running for reelection this year as one of Spartanburg County's veteran legislators.Allison, 72, has served longer than any other currently serving state House member in Spartanburg County and holds an influential post on the House Ways and Means committee, which votes on budget-related bills. She's also the only woman among the 13 legislators comprising Spartanburg County's legislative delegation.Representing House District 36 in an area of western Spartanburg County north of Interstate 85, south of Inman and inclusive of Duncan, Wellford, Startex, Lyman and eastern Greer, Allison is running on her record of responsive constituent services, her involvement in the community and her clout as a legislator."I've realized that in order to have that voice for Spartanburg County and South Carolina, I needed to move into certain positions," she said. "I have worked very hard to position myself so that I can serve on a committee so that I do have that seat on the table."Allison served as a legislator from 1992 to 2001, when she made a failed attempt for lieutenant governor. Afterward, she held posts in Gov. Mark Sanford's administration and the Commission on Higher Education. She returned to the House in 2009.Jim McMillan is challenging Allison for the House District 36 seat this year after failing to beat Allison in 2010, when Allison garnered 61 percent of the vote, or 2,000 more votes than McMillan.McMillan's criticisms of Allison generally come from the political right and are characteristic of recent ideological battles within the local Republican Party.Allison said she's tried to take the criticism in stride while at the same time defending both her role in the General Assembly and her conservative credentials."I always come down on the conservative side," she said. "There are probably people who are much, much more extreme to the right than I am … and they're probably more Libertarian than they are Republican."Much of the criticism has centered on Allison's role in tabling a school choice bill, which means it wasn't debated at all. Allison came back this year and co-sponsored a school choice bill, which passed the House and died in the Senate.She said the General Assembly will take a comprehensive look at how the state pays for education during this upcoming legislative session, and school choice will again be a part of that conversation."We're not through with school choice," she said. "It will come out better in the long run because it's been a good debate over what's best for students and parents."McMillan has also issued a broad claim that Allison favors a "central, planned economy" over the "free market," and he has said her support for incentives for certain businesses is evidence of this.Allison has been in favor of such business deals."In order to do business, along the way, there does come some times that the state makes an investment, but that is not made without obligations," she said.She said BMW Manufacturing Co., which is in her district, is one such example of a corporation that received an incentive and then provided a huge economic impact in the Upstate region.She said that such deals are not free handouts. Attracting a company to a community brings a commensurate reward to that community, she said."That moves our state forward," she said. "I didn't go to Columbia to stand and be against everything and be an obstructionist. I went to Columbia to try to help my community, county and state move forward."

Allison is also campaigning as someone who is accessible and responsive to her constituent's needs and requests.She lists her cell phone number on her website and said she's able to be a full-time legislator because she is retired and has the support of her husband, who is a businessman.Although Allison does still work part-time for the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, she said she's phasing that out and will devote more time to legislative and community matters.Having grown up in Lyman, where she still lives today, she is running as a candidate who is at once a veteran legislator who knows how to effectively navigate political waters in Columbia and a community advocate with deep roots in House District 36."The thing I pride myself in the most is that I don't just serve at the state level, but I am involved in my community," she said. "I feel like I have my finger on the pulse of all age groups in my area because I have been among them and worked for them as a volunteer."Allison has been more successful than McMillan in fundraising for her campaign. She has $45,935 in her campaign fund, according to October 10 campaign disclosure forms on file with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission.McMillan has $9,235.

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